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Welcome to day four of the Heart-Ford sew-a-long! Today we will be constructing the heart pocket and attaching it to the skirt.

You should have cut out two sets of hearts- one main and one lining.

If you are not adding the ruffle and creating the simple heart, start on #5

1. To construct the ruffle, fold the strip in half right sides together and match up the short ends. Using a 1/4” seam allowance, sew the short ends together. Press the seams open. (Lace or trim can be used for the ruffle as well.)

2. Fold the long sides in half wrong sides together and press.

3. Sew a gathering stitch around the raw edge of the folded strip.

4. Gather and pin to fit the right side of the main heart piece. Ironing the gathers can help with keeping them in place. Baste to attach using a 1/4” seam allowance.

5. Place the lining on top of the main heart piece right sides together. If you made the ruffle, it will be sandwiched between the main and lining. Pin in place.

Sew around the heart using a 1/2” seam allowance. When reaching the points of the heart, keep the needle down, left the foot and pivot the heart for a nice, sharp turn. Stop one to two inches before finishing the seam, leaving a small opening.

Clip the curves and trim down the corners, taking care not to cut through stitching.

Turn the heart right side out through the opening. Carefully poke out the curves and corners. Press.

Starting a little more than halfway up the heart, with a 1/8” seam allowance topstitch across the top of the heart, ending around the same place on the opposite side.

Take the front skirt fold it in half and press to make a center crease. Place the hearts on either side of the center line 2 to 4 inches out from the center fold, and 4 to 7 inches down from the top. (Feel free to put the pockets anywhere you’d like, this is just a recommended placement). Pin in place.

Beginning where the topstitching ended, with a 1/8” seam allowance topstitch around the bottom of the heart and stop when the topstitching on the other side is reached. The pockets are now attached to the dress.

Don’t forget to post minimum of one progress photo and one final photo in the albums in the LLK Sewing Group, Sew-a-Long photo album.